CVE-2021-22277 in 800xA
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2022
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in ABB 800xA, Control Software for AC 800M, Control Builder Safe, Compact Product Suite - Control and I/O, ABB Base Software for SoftControl allows an attacker to cause the denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
The CVE-2021-22277 vulnerability represents a critical improper input validation flaw within ABB's 800xA control software ecosystem, specifically affecting the AC 800M control system and related components including Control Builder Safe, Compact Product Suite, and Base Software for SoftControl. This vulnerability resides in the input validation mechanisms that govern how the software processes external data inputs, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust in validated data streams. The flaw manifests when the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, allowing crafted malicious inputs to bypass normal security checks and potentially disrupt system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input data that the affected ABB software components process during normal operational procedures. When an attacker submits malformed or specially crafted input sequences, the system's insufficient validation controls fail to detect the anomalous data patterns, leading to unexpected behavior within the control software. The vulnerability specifically targets the control and I/O processing capabilities of the 800xA platform, which operates within industrial control systems where reliability and continuous operation are paramount. This improper input validation creates a condition where an attacker can inject malicious payloads that trigger memory corruption or resource exhaustion scenarios within the affected software components.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-22277 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise the integrity of industrial control processes that depend on ABB's 800xA platform. In critical infrastructure environments where AC 800M systems control manufacturing processes, power generation, or other essential operations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized system disruptions that may cascade into broader operational failures. The vulnerability's potential for causing denial of service means that legitimate operators may lose access to critical control functions, potentially requiring manual intervention or system restarts that could result in production downtime and safety risks. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these systems typically operate in environments where system availability is mission-critical and where traditional network security controls may be insufficient to prevent exploitation.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, the weakness category for improper input validation, which is a fundamental security principle that affects numerous industrial control systems. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for network denial of service, as it enables attackers to disrupt system availability through input manipulation. Organizations implementing ABB 800xA systems should consider this vulnerability as part of their industrial control system security posture, particularly in environments where operational technology networks are not adequately segmented from corporate networks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation practices in industrial control systems and the need for regular security assessments of control software components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-22277 should prioritize immediate patch management through ABB's official security advisories and software updates. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous input patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to recognize patterns associated with input validation attacks against industrial control systems. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of industrial control environments are essential to identify similar weaknesses in other control system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing need for security hardening in industrial environments where legacy systems may lack modern security controls and validation mechanisms.